Centre Seeks To Move Coal To Areas Of Shortage As Power Demand Rises

The power minister said India's electricity demand is likely to continue increasing and asked utilities to consider blending imported coal with local fuel to address shortages.

Power Minister RK Singh on Saturday asked officials to consider diverting coal to power plants with extremely depleted stocks as shortages at some plants push several utilities to the verge of running out of fuel. Mr Singh asked officials to "streamline the stock and supply of coal", including a reduction in inventory targets to 10 days from 14 days, to allow coal to be moved to areas of greatest shortage as energy demand rises. Mr Singh said the country's electricity demand is likely to continue increasing and also asked utilities to consider blending imported coal with local fuel to address shortages. India's electricity generation rose by 16.1% in August compared with a year earlier, a Reuters analysis of government data showed, lifted by a 23.7% jump in coal-fired power generation that has led to shortages at utilities.